Irrigation Management

Irrigation Management :: Sorghum

Sorghum
Nursery Practices

Provide one inlet to each nursery unit.
Allow water to enter through the inlet and cover all the channels till the raised beds are wet and then cut off water and
Adjust the frequency of irrigation according to the soil types as follows:

NOTE: Do not allow cracks to develop in the nursery by properly adjusting the quantity of irrigation water.

Main field Preparation for Irrigated Crop

Formation of Ridges and Furrows

Form ridges and furrows using a ridger at 6 m long and 45 cm apart
Form irrigation channels across the furrows
Alternatively, form beds of size 10 m2 and 20 m2 depending on the availability of water.

Forming ridges and furrows

Main Field

Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phase of the crop.

Stages		No. of Irrigation	Days of Transplanting/Sowing of Crop
			Transplanted	Direct sown
Light soils
i. Irrigate for germination or establishment	1		1st day	1st day
	2		4th day	4th day
ii. Regulate irrigation during vegetative phase	1		15th day	15th day
	2		28th day	28th day
iii. Flowering phase (copious irrigation)	1		40th day	40th day
	2		52nd day	52nd day
	3		..	64th day
iv.Maturity phase (Control irrigation)	1		65th day	76th day
	2		..	88th day
v. Stop irrigation thereafter	..		..
Heavy soils
i. Irrigate for germination or establishment	1		1st day	1st day
	2		4th day	4th day
ii. Regulate irrigation during vegetative phase	1		17th day	17th day
	2		30th day	30th day
iii. Flowering phase (give copious irrigation)	1		40th day	45th day
	2		52nd day	60th day
	3		..	75th day
Maturity phase (Control irrigation)	1		72nd day	90th day
v. Stop irrigation thereafter

NOTE :
Adjust irrigation schedule according to the weather conditions and depending upon the receipt of rains.

Contingent Plan:

This should be done before 75% of soil moisture is lost from available water.
Spraying 3% Kaolin (30 g in one litre of water) during periods of stress will mitigate the ill effects.

Ratoon Sorghum Crop

Water Management